ASPHALT: Lexan sheet protects Toronto bus drivers
Canadian Plastics
It's a problem that Ralph Kramden, the bus-driving hero of the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, never had to worry about: being attacked by a passenger. In modern-day Toronto, however, assaults on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operators now...
It’s a problem that Ralph Kramden, the bus-driving hero of the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, never had to worry about: being attacked by a passenger.
In modern-day Toronto, however, assaults on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operators now average one per day. The TTC turned to Sabic Innovative Plastics for help, and Sabic responded with a new, high-tech shield to enhance driver protection.
Consisting of a 31-inch by 38-inch rectangular enclosure with a lower metal door, the new operator protection is made of Lexan sheet and coated with the Exatec E900 advanced plasma technology at Exatec’s facility in Wixom, Mich. The high impact strength and optical clarity of Lexan sheet combines with the abrasion resistance of the Exatec coating to form a formidable protective barrier.
While protection of the driver was a primary objective of the TTC bus retrofit, the glazing solution also had to meet stringent regulatory requirements for optical clarity (driver visibility) as set forth by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
“Our close collaboration with the TTC and their suppliers helped us to quickly understand their requirements, and develop the material and coating combination needed for the high performance protection shield quickly and cost-effectively,” said Stephen Shuler, chief technology officer for Exatec, LLC, at Sabic.
Sabic Innovative Plastics Canada (Toronto); www.sabic-ip.com; 1-800-323-3783
